Jean Jacques Rousseau

France
28 Jun 1712 // 2 Jul 1778
Philosopher / Writer

Quotes

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The mind grows narrow in proportion as the soul grows corrupt
Reason deceives us often; conscience never
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet
It is not our criminal actions that require courage to confess, but those which are ridiculous and foolish
If there were a people consisting of gods, they would be governed democratically. So perfect a government is not suitable to men
Gratitude is a duty which ought to be paid, but which none have a right to expect
Gracefulness cannot subsist without ease; delicacy is not debility; nor must a woman be sick in order to please. Infirmity, and sickness may excite our pity, but desire and pleasure require the bloom and vigor of health
Fame is but the breath of the people, and that often unwholesome
Falsehood is susceptible of an infinity of combinations, but truth has only one mode of being
Equality is deemed by many a mere speculative chimera, which can never be reduced to practice. But if the abuse is inevitable, does it follow that we ought not to try at least to mitigate it? It is precisely because the force of things tends always to destroy equality that the force of the legislature must always tend to maintain it
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On Anger: "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
Essays
On Destiny: "Our destiny exercises its influence over us even when, as yet, we have not learned its nature: it is our future that lays down the law of our today."
Human, All Too Human
On Friendship: "A crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love."
Essays